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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 2012 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Mayor Buttigieg stated that tonight he will present a state of finances and general <br />condition of the City as statutorily required under Chapter 2, Article 1 of the South Bend <br />Municipal Code Section 2-3.1. He stated that it has been a month and a half since we all <br />st <br />first took office on January 1. He stated that the first priority was to get his team up and <br />running. He is pleased to report that he has an excellent staff in place in the Mayor’s <br />Office working hard. He stated that he believes his office is the most diverse Mayor’s <br />Office staff in the history of South Bend and draws on the talents of both experienced and <br />new public servants. From day one literally his offices was coordinating with the Street <br />Department and others to ensure that our snow removal efforts continued to excel and the <br />residents were alerted to local road conditions. In Economic Development news, a new <br />veterans clinic will be coming to downtown South Bend at the site of the Gates Building <br />bringing tens of thousands of people to the downtown area and up to 100 jobs to the heart <br />of the city. This move will also save tax money for the City of South Bend relative to our <br />land acquisition plan and help veterans all at the same time. Mayor Buttigieg stated that <br />he is committed to Education and has addressed the South Bend School Board. He stated <br />that he detailed a five step approach to more city engagement with the school system. He <br />stated that he has visited a number of public schools and classrooms across the city. He <br />stated that all of our shared goals, Council and administration depend very much on good <br />engagement with the school system and is pleased to report that there is a very receptive <br />environment at the school corporation on the part of the board and the Superintendent for <br />us to continue working together. He stated that his office has initiated a full strategic and <br />structural review of the Community and Economic Development Department so that they <br />have the right strategy and structure going forward to collaborate with all the other <br />economic development groups in our community to retain businesses attract investment <br />and create jobs. He stated that he also prepared to announce a vacant and abandoned <br />housing task force to combat the blight in our neighborhoods. He stated that if he can get <br />everyone around the same table he believes that they can expedite the demolition and <br />rehabilitation of problem properties in our neighborhoods and focus on bringing <br />sustainability and safety to our streets. He stated that the Council has always played an <br />important leadership role in confronting this issue and he will be very much relying on <br />the Council as we moved forward on this effort. He stated that they have sworn in the <br />new City Controller Mark Neal and have had a terrific change of command ceremony <br />initiating our new Fire Chief Chris Cox. He stated that if a certain proposal passes <br />tonight he believes that the administration will be very strongly positioned to bring more <br />outstanding department leaders into city government to serve the citizens of South Bend. <br />He stated that he was elected in order to deliver change and improve City government <br />and he needs the most qualified and experienced department heads in place in order to do <br />that. Mayor Buttigieg advised that in personal relationships he has engaged with Mayor <br />Dave Wood of Mishawaka and our leaders in County Government to discuss possible <br />ways we can all partner to benefit the businesses and the families of our community. He <br />stated that once again the reception there has been warm and productive. He stated that <br />he is looking forward for many opportunities to collaborate. He stated that they <br />welcomed the opening of the new Kroc Center on Western Avenue, something for which <br />he can take no credit but in which he takes a great deal of pride. It is world class resource <br />for fitness, family and fun and sits right at the gateway to the Westside. Mayor Buttigieg <br />stated speaking of the Westside he made it a point of choosing the Charles Martin Center <br />st <br />as the venue for the 1 installment of the Mayor’s Night-Out/Mayor’s Night-In Program. <br />He stated that it allows any citizens who wants to come face to face; one on one with the <br />Mayor and the City Department Heads so that they can try to do some real time problem <br />solving on the concerns or issues they have when its comes to neighborhood safety and <br />city services. The response was tremendous and looks forward to holding these meetings <br />every month and working with the Council to make sure that they are well attended and <br />that they are resolving people’s concerns. The Code Enforcement is hard at work <br />cleaning illegal dumping sites and thanked the Council for having had the vision and the <br />commitment to extend funding for this program. He stated that they have now removed <br />over 1.4 million pounds of trash illegally dumped in our neighborhoods. Mayor <br />Buttigieg stated that last but not least they have responded to concerned e-mails from a <br />12 year old boy on the South Side who desperately wanted a stop sign near a dangerous <br />intersection outside his home. Mayor Buttigieg advised that he is happy to report that the <br />intersection of Donmoyer and High now has a safe four-way traffic stop thanks to this <br />young man and to the Traffic and Lighting Crews in the City Engineering Division. 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